I would love advice on how to plan this trip. We'd like 2-3 days in Paris (have been before), want to see Normandy, Monet's home, and Loire Valley, then head south and see Provence, and some of the wine country there. Any and all suggestions appreciated. We're two VERY YOUNG 70 year old women! We're probably not into renting a car, but that could be an option.....very happy with trains! Thank you in advance!!

Hello,

Please clarify how many full days will you have in France. Does the 12 days include your travel days to France?

What do you want to see in Normandy besides Giverny? Rouen, some of the D-Day sites, Mont Saint Michel, Honfleur?

What do you want to visit in the Loire?

Paris, Normandy and the Loire would be plenty for me with only 12 days. I could easily spend the 9 days apart from Paris in Normandy and the Loire and would not advise traveling to the South of France in such a short time. If you tackle all four you will have less than 3 days in each as you will need travel time between them.

A car maybe essential in Normandy & the Loire depending on what you hope to see. Please provide more on your goals so others may help.

You'll need a car to even cover half the places you want to visit.

1. Paris, Normandy, and Loire

2. Provence, Normandy, & Paris

3. Provence, Loire, & Paris

Pick one of these & we'll provide the details.

Stu Dudley

You can't realistically do all that with only 12 days. Pick Paris and the Loire or Paris and Provence, and either way, rent a car or you'll be shortchanged on what you can visit.

You can't visit "wine country" on a train.

I agree with either / or, too much to do all in 12 days. I think you can do it using trains and local tour companies - it would probably be enhanced by having a car, but if you don't want to drive, then don't. I know there are daytrips using small vans that go to Normandy and the chateaus from some of the small cities in the Loire Valley. Giverney is easy from Paris.